“The Constant Gardener” (Focus Features)
Ralph Fiennes and Rachel Weisz star in “The Constant Gardener,” a film about life and death in Africa. The movie starts with a murder and moves backwards and forward in time to solve the mystery of the death and why it occurred. The film is a political thriller but also a personal love story.
Justin Quayle (Fiennes) is a British diplomat assigned to Kenya. He is a mild-mannered sort who thinks it best to never make waves, especially in politics. His wife Tessa (Weisz) is just the opposite. She seeks out injustice and makes it her banner. Thus it is no surprise when she turns up dead; murdered while on the way back from a political meeting of her choosing.
Justin is horrified by her murder and stunned that it is written off so quickly by his friends and colleagues. He determines to find out the reason for her death and learn who is responsible. He relies on his close friend Sandy (Danny Huston) to assist him, but soon realizes that no one really wants the mystery solved.
The film is one that moves very slowly with each action uncovering just a bit more of the mystery. Then there are numerous flashbacks that help explain Tessa’s personality and also her love for her husband.
Both Fiennes and Weisz are very good in their roles, delineating exactly how each of these persons would act and react to the world around them. Huston is also effective as the treacherous Sandy.
The camerawork that captures the African landscape is almost another character in the film. It is stunning and vivid in much the same way the camerawork played an important role in director Fernando Meirelles’ other film “City of God.”
This movie is based on a John Le Carre’ novel and captures all the basic plot points found there. It is a political thriller that makes its point about the profiteering going on in Africa with the continent’s citizen’s being the worse for their help.
The film is rated R for profanity, nudity and violence.
“The Constant Gardener” is a good film, solidly acted that will stay with you long after the movie’s viewing. Working against it is the slow pace it utilizes and the blandness of Fiennes’ characterization, correct though it may be.
You have to work at absorbing all that is occurring on screen in “The Constant Gardener.” Everything that happens has a meaning, and every event is an omen for the future. There is no easy entertainment here and for some that will be a good thing.
I scored “The Constant Gardener” a weeded 7 out of 10.
